Sanitary postage and tax stamps



Aug. 24, 1937. J. SMALL SANITARY POSTAGE AND TAX STAMP- Filed Feb. ll, 1935 A l l n 1 x l l-. .14/

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Patented Aug. 24, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application February 11, 1935, Serial No. 6,038 vIn Canada `lamiaryl 30, 1934 Claims.

side of a sheet of stamps, means whereby any` number of stamps detached from the main sheet of stamps may retain the corresponding part of the sanitary protective sheet securely attached, and means whereby the sanitary protective sheet may be quickly and easily removed when a stamp 7 is to be used.

Itis well known that users of postage stamps generally moisten the gurnmed side of the stamps by applying directly to the tongue, therefore the present method of selling stamps across the counter whereby the salesman handles all stamps directly, his fingers often moist, coming into direct Contact with the gurnmed side of the stamps, is very unsanitary, especially when the same fingers are also continuously handling soiled coins and paper money and perhaps contaminated handkerchiefs. In addition, stamps when bought are invariably slid across a counter, gummed side in contact with the counter which is continually being soiled from contact with dirty coins, paper money, ngers, clothing, sputum, etc. This invention is designed therefore to make the handling of stamps more sanitary.

With the above and other objects in view the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the appended claims.

Fig. 1 is an illustration of one half of a sheet of one hundred sanitary postage stamps.

Fig. 2 is an illustration of the thin sanitary protective sheet.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of Fig. 1 along the line 3-3.

Fig. 4 is an illustration of a pair of stamps detached from Fig. 1 by tearing along the rows of perforations I3, 9 and I4.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View of Fig. 1 along the line 5 5.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be made to the accompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

The numeral I represents a printed sheet of stamps, the back side of which carries a coating of gum, 4I, 42 and'43 are double column blocks of stamps printed in juxtaposition, i and 5 are narrow blank strips allowed between the double column blocks of stamps, and 6, 'I and 8 are nari row blank margins allowed around the outside edges of the sheet I of stamps.

The numeral 2 is a thin sheet of paper exactly the same size as the sheet I of stamps, securely attached to the back or gummed side of the sheet i by both sheets I and 2 being glued together along the shaded areas 35i and 45 on the narrow blank strips 4 and 5, and along the shaded areas 36, STI and 38 on the narrow blank margins t?, I and 8.

The numbers I I to 2 I, and 22 to 29 are, respectively, horizontal and vertical rows of perforations penetrating both sheets I and 2, running close to the edges of the stamps and from edge to edge of the double sheet. 9 and IEB, penetrating both sheets I and 2, extending longitudinaily through the centre of the narrow blank strips 4 and 5 from edge to edge of the double sheet.

It will be readily seen that while both sheets I and 2 are securely glued together along the blank areas especially provided for that purpose, the thin sheet 2 merely serves as a protective medium to the actual stamps, and is not attached to the back or gummed side of any of the stamps.

In detaching stamps from the main sheet of stamps in Fig. 1, any row of perforations may be used, however, of the vertical rows it is preferable those numbered 22, 9, 25, SEI or 2% should be used for the first tearing. The corresponding part of the protective sheet is then securely attached to each stamp or block of stamps torn from the main sheet. The vertical rows of perforations, such as 23, 24, 2B, 21 or 29 are then used for remo-ving the protective sheet from these detached stamps as their use is required.

The pair of stamps 32 and 35 in Fig. 4 with the corresponding part of the thin protective sheet 2 attached to the shaded areas 31 and 40 on the blank strips 4 and 1, are detached from the sheet I of stamps by tearing along the rows of perforations I3, 9 and I4. The rows of perforations 2'! and 29 allow the blank strips 4 and 1, to which the protective sheet 2 is attached, to be detached from the stamps 32 and 35 leaving the stamps ready for use.

By tearing along the row of perforations 28 in Fig. 4 the two stamps 32 and 35 are separated, each stamp still carrying its corresponding part of the protective sheet 2 securely attached, but

Rows of perforations this may be removed by detaching the blank strip fl or l as the case may be.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will 5 be seen that single stamps or any size block of stamps may be detached from the main sheet i of stamps by using the proper rows of perforations, and each stamp or block of stamps will retain its own corresponding part of the protective sheet Z securely attached; also, that means are provided for quickly and easily removing the protective sheet Z from the stamps as their use is required. t will also be seen that the gummed side of the stamps is at all times fully protected from contact with disease or dirt bearing objects until such time as the stamps are actually used.

While the sheet i of stamps illustrated, is one half the size of a full sheet of one hundred stamps, such sheets may be of any size and contain any number of stamps.

I do not desire to confine my invention to any particular arrangement of stamps such as that illustrated, as the same results may be obtained when the blank strips l and 5 divide the stamps into single columns, or the blank strips may run horizontally dividing the stamps into single or double rows, or a combination of vertical and horizontal blank strips separating the stamps at intervals, may be used. In all such cases the blank strips receive the same treatment and fill the same purpose as those illustrated in the accompanying drawing. Therefore the right is herein reserved to make such changes as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention what I claim l. The combination of a sheet of stamps and a protective sheet therefore, said sheet of stamps having at least two rows of stamps with a blank marginal portion between said rows, said sheet of stamps being adhesively connected to said sheet of protective material at said blank maru gina] portion.

2. The combination of a sheet of stamps and a protective sheet therefore, said protective sheet being the same size as the Said sheet of stamps, said sheet of stamps having at least two rows of stamps with a blank marginal portion between said rows, said sheet of stamps being adhesively 50 connected to said sheet of protective material at said blank marginal portion, said sheet of protective material entirely covering the back of the said sheet of stamps.

3. The combination of a sheet of stamps and 55 a protective sheet therefore, said protective sheet being the same size as the said sheet of stamps, said sheet of stamps having at least two rows of stamps with a blank marginal portion between said rows, said sheet of stamps being adhesively connected to said sheet of protective material at each said blank marginal portion, said sheet of protective material entirely covering the back of the said sheet of stamps; a row of perforations penetrating both said sheets, extending longitudinally from edge to edge of the double sheet and close to each edge of each said blank marginal portion, and a row of perforations penetrating both said sheets extending longitudinally from edge to edge of the double sheet along the centre of each said blank marginal portion, all substantially as described for the purpose specied.

4. The combination of a sheet of stamps and a protective sheet therefore, said protective sheet being the same size as the said sheet of stamps, said sheet of stamps having at least two double column blocks of stamps with a blank marginal portion between said double column blocks of stamps, said sheet of stamps being adhesively connected to said sheet of protective material at each blank marginal portion, said sheet of protective material entirely covering the back of the said sheet ol stamps; a row of perforations penetrating both said sheets, extending longitudinally from edge to edge of the double sheet and close to each edge of each said blank marginal portion, and a row of perforations penetrating both said sheets extending longitudinally from edge to edge of the double sheet along the centre of each said marginal portion, all substantially as described for the purpose specified.

5. rThe combination of a sheet of stamps and a protective sheet therefore, said protective sheet being the same size as the said sheet of stamps, said sheet of stamps having at least two rows of stamps with a blank marginal portion between said rows, said sheet of stamps being adhesively connected to said sheet of protective material at each said blank marginal portion, said sheet of protective material entirely covering the back of the said sheet of stamps; at least two rows of perforations penetrating both said sheets, eX- tending longitudinally from edge to edge of the double sheet through each said blank marginal portion; all vertical and horizontal rows of perforations used to perforate off the stamps, to penetrate both said sheets, all substantially as described for the purpose specified.

JOHN L. SMALL. 

